Umbrella



(No Model.)

H, S. WHITGOMB.

UMBRELLA.

No. 473,649. Patented Apr. 26. 1892.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

I-IOVARD S. WHITOOMB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,649, dated April 26, 1892..

Application filed June 13, 1891. Serial No. 396,126. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD S. WHITCOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in umbrellas of the class which are designed to be folded up into a small compass to render them of a convenient size to carry in the pocket or in a sachel; and my object is to provide an umbrella of this class of an improved construction which will render it particularly light, strong, durable, and convenient to fold and unfold.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken sectional elevation of an umbrella of my improved construction extended and opened; Fig. 2, an enlarged and broken central section of the handle; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken and partly sectional view of the frame folded; Fig. 4, an enlarged plan view. of a detail of the construction; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken perspective view of one of the rib-joints; and Fig. 6, a broken View showing in section and elevation, respectively, the ends of telescoping sleeves which .form the stick or handle.

A is the stick of. the umbrella, formed in sections, comprising a rod A and a handle portion, which latter consists, preferably, of two telescoping sections or sleeves A and A. The rod A is arranged to slide into or telescope with the sleeve A of the handle portion.

Secured in the upper ends of the sections or sleeves A A are ferrules t s, respectively, which are provided at their lower ends with the inclined grooves t s, which extend about one-quarter of the circumference of the ferrules and terminate in the sockets t .9 Near the lower ends of the sections A and A are lugs r 7*, respectively, which when the sections are extended may be caused, by turning the sections upon each other in one direction, to enter the grooves 15 s and rest in the sockets t s to lock the sections in their extended positions. Extending across the lower end of the section A is a pin g, and at opposite sides of the lower edge "of the section A are sockets g, which when the sections A and A are telescoped engage the said pin and lock those brace-rods o are pivotally secured. The bearing 13 is held in place between flanges on the sleeve A whereby it is secured against longitudinal play, while permitting the sleeve to be independently rotated for the purpose of locking it to the section A as before described.

At the upper end of the section A is a bearing-plate n for the ribs m of the umbrella, and Z is a sleeve or runner of an internal diameter, which permits the sleeve A to slide freely through it. Secured at opposite ends respectively to the plate 712 and sleeve Z are stiff rods 76 it, which between the said plate and sleeve pass loosely through openings 7c in the bearing 19. The ribs m are made each in two sections m and m of about equal length. The sections m are pivoted at one end to the plate at and carry at their opposite ends pivot-bearings 2', which are rigidly secured to the sections m. Each hearing I is formed with flanged sides, affording between them a socket t", about midway of the ends of which the section m of the respective rib is pivoted, and on the reverse sides of the bearings 2' are lugs i to which the brace-rods 0 are pivoted. On the frame is the usual textile covering as, which is fastened at the plate at at the ends of the ribs and at eyes i in the pivotbearings i. The lower end of the sleeve A is provided with a knob or other suitable holder y.

To open the umbrella when folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the knob y is grasped with one hand and the sections m of the ribs permitted to swing down over the hand and forearm. The sleeve Z is then grasped with the other hand and raised, causing the sleeves A and A first to become extended and then the umbrella to open as the section A is advanced out of the sleeve A While still grasping the sleeve Z and knob the latter is given a turn to the right, which causes first the lug r to enterthe groove 15 to the socket t and then the sleeves to turn together, causing the lug r to enter the groove 8' to the socket 8 whereby the sections are locked in their extended positions,

as before described. When the umbrella is opened, the tension of the fabric covering :1: causes the outer rib-sections m to become firmly pressed down into the sockets z" of the bearings t', and thus form practically continuations of the inner sections we.

To look the ribs in their opened condition and prevent the umbrella from closing under pressure exerted against the ribs, I provide brace-rods 0 of a length slightly in excess of the normal distance :(when the umbrella is open) between the bearings 11 and parallel point on the section A This causes the sleeve Z to spring past said point when the umbrella is opened and closed, and is apt to make it more difficult than is desirable to ef fectthe initial opening of the umbrella.

To counteract to a degree the force of the spring produced by the tension of the braces and ribs, I provide a short helical spring it about the section A between the bearings 19 and n, which, as the umbrella is closed, is compressed between said bearings and aids by its resilience in the initial opening of the umbrella. The spring h is not sufficiently powerful of itself to cause the sections when telescoped to separate, owing to the length and weight of the ribs and brace-rods against the leverage of which it has to bear.

The construction of my improved umbrella renders it particularly strong and durable. It may be folded and unfolded practically as quickly and easily as an ordinary umbrella, and when folded it is little over one-third of the lengthwhich it assumes when extended.

While the construction shown and described is preferred, it is subject to modifications which would not depart from the spirit of my invention and are intended to be covered by the claims.

The umbrellas, especially of the smaller 'sizes, may be formed with handle portions consisting of a single sleeve instead of two telescoping sleeves.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, ribs m, pivotally connected with the rod A braces 0, pivotally connected with the handle portion, and a sleeve Z below the rod A and rigidly connected therewith, substantially as described.

2. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, bearing 1) for the bracerods on the handle portion, bearing n for the ribs on the rod A sleeve Z, and rods 7c, connecting the sleeve Z and bearing a, substantially as described.

3. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, rib sections 'm', pivoted to the rod A pivot-bearingsi on the sections m, provided with lugs 7?, rib-sections m pivoted to the bearings 'Z, brace-rods pivotally connected at opposite ends, respectively, to the handle portion and lugs 2' and a sleeve Z,

rigidly connected with the rod A substantially as described.

4. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, ribs 112, formed in sections m m connected pivotally together, braces 0, rib-bearing n on the rod A brace-bearing p on the handle portion, sleeve Z, and rods 7c, connecting the sleeve Z and rib-bearing 42, substantially as described.

5. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of-a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, ribs m, formed in sections on m connected pivotally together, braces 0, rib-bearing n on the rod A loose brace-bearing 19 on the handle portion and held thereon against independent longitudinal movement and provided with openings Z0, sleeve Z, rods is, passing loosely through the openings 70 in the bearing 19 and connecting the sleeve Z and rib-bearing, a groove 8' in the handle portion, and a lug r on the rod A substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a folding umbrella, the combination of an umbrella-stick A, formed in sections, consisting of a rod A and a handle portion telescoping therewith, ribs m, braces o, rib-bearing 9% on the rod A brace-bearing p on the handle portion, sleeve Z, rods 70, connecting the sleeve Z and rib-bearing, and a spring h between the said rib and brace bearings, substantially as described.

7. In a folding umbrella, the combination of the telescoping umbrella-stick sections A A A rib-bearing n on the section A loose bracebearing 19 on the section A sleeve Z, rods 70, connecting the runner and rib-bearing, looking means between the adjacent ends of the extended sections, and locking means, as the pin q and sockets g on the sections A A for securing the said sections together against independent rotation when telescoped, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HOYVARD S. WHITGOMB.

In presence of J. W. DYRENFORTH, 'M. J. FROST.

IIO 

